Mythology Reading Evaluation

I was all about Aesop's fables. Those short stories and poetry are my favorite. Especially the haiku. But I especially love how Aesop's fables are like Disney before Disney, and have many morals and settings and animals and randomness that is just great. Makoma was cool to read as well, as Americans aren't really taught a lot about African stories. We of course know all the classic stories like Beowulf, Alice in Wonderland, The Odyssey, Arabian Nights (Aladdin), or Hercules, but our educational institutions seem to rob us of the knowledge of African, Native Americans, and Asia just to name a couple major few.

I thought there was kind of an excessive amount of commenting when it went to 7 per weekend, but more particularly with the 150 words. 60 is very doable though. But it does force the student to think more critically so keep the structure the way it is!

Reflections

I have greatly enjoyed this class, online mythology, at the University of Oklahoma, curated by the lovely Laura Gibbs. Honestly, reading is not a thing I enjoy, unless snippets, poetry, short facts, or short stories. I love that type of reading but anything past three pages and I usually get disinterested. Its a intellectual/creative romanticism thing with poetry I think haha. With this class however, there are so many options in each week-by-week unit that I did not have to read long things that I would hate. I had the choice. The freedom of this class within the system is probably the best thing about it tied with the push for creative writing and imagination. It's a beautiful class.

My project kept me interested the whole semester. I really got the chance to dive in to a subject matter I liked and wanted to do. That is how you keep a student engaged, by letting them have the freedom to express their passions or interest, while still staying inside the instructors class structure. My project was about warriors, and the class's set up went great with it, as each week or two weeks we would study stories or mythology from a different culture from around the world and throughout history. This lent itself for a wide variety of characters, influences, and styles. A nursing pool for creativity and idea. It gave my stories and warriors vastly different influential elements to pull from, making each one versatile and unique.

Reading and commenting on others student's projects was a good thing. It kind of gently forced you to learn more and interact, but while not knowing you were doing these things. It's good learning about other students and seeing how they express themselves. It was also cool to keep up with a writing blog with such content in the end. Something we could show people after we were done. A collection or diary of our writings.

I am most proud of how crazy, creative, violent, and descriptive I have become with my writings. Sometimes I jam too much into sentences, but I think this has kinda become my style and people have appreciated it. Even with critiques people still praise my unique diction and style. I am a fragment writer. I try to be poetic and dramatic. I jump from tenses and from slang to proper english. I am an abstract writer. I also love detail. Overkill detail. I always intend to paint a graphic picture with my words. So I am proud of blossoming as a unique creative writer with a distinct, yet versatile style. 

Reading Diary B - British // Alice

British Stories

Author's Notes

So a lot of great classical stories hail from Europe. King Arthur, Robin Hood, and especially Alice in Wonderland (at one point competing with Lion King for the spot as my favorite childhood Disney movie). I just loved the adventure of Alice more  than Robin Hood or King Arthur. And maybe because the depictions of the other two in their movies, Disney or live action, doesn't compare to the dope trippy randomness of Alice's many encounters and adventure.

My portfolio being about warriors it made me think of an combo Alice in Wonderland warrior comprised of the many characters and traits of them all into a mega Alice warrior haha. The random thoughts of Michael's crazy head, oh my haha. Just for a quick example: like a little blonde girls with blue eyes, many arms like the caterpillar, extra quickness from the white rabbit - almost like being faster than normal time and a giant clock shield, invisibility from the cheshire cat - along with purple and lavender horizontal war-paint streaks on her face, extra great hearing and from the crazy march hare, berserk rage ability from the crazy mad hatter, a crown and heart tipped spear from the queen of hearts, and super strength from the twins tweedledee and tweedledum haha. What a crazy character.

Alice In Wonderland

Week 6 Storytelling - Yamato M12

Yamato M12
based off of the Japanese legends of
Yamato the Great Samurai


Author's Foreword:

Yamato is a great Samurai warrior legend, compared

to the prestige of say, Hercules. There are actually a lot of similarities between the two, both being very

different styles of warriors however. They both undergo their respective labors, with both having slain great dragons, beast boars, and sirens. Yamato is the greatest samurai in Japanese legend. Here is my rendition of this legendary warrior:

Black steel and titanium shine
His metal be his life now
His four swords had always been metal
Four feet of hardened Japanese steel
But now most his body metal
His heart half metal
None know what his face appears anymore
For he bore a tech helmet full of circular sensors
More technology and metal than human anymore
He still retain his legendary skill
The skill with the samurai sword
His acute quickness that win him continuous life
And deadly blow after deadly blow to his enemy
Now he was heightened with hydraulic systems
Armor of metal and sensors
Weapons of a new age with weapons of the old
Mechanized for undeniable victory
A reminiscence of his old armor still vaguely there
Layered metal pads over his thighs and shoulders
A fierce scowl over the bottom half of his face
His demonic samurai mask
His second favorite piece behind his katanas
The mask set like a samurai gas mask
Like the jowls of snarling wolf
A scary beastly look
His enemies think him roaring with a still face
Raising the skin of the victims he rushed
The cheeks and canines of a dark lion
They know not if he be man animal or demon
They only know he be their death
A swoosh of black on black steel
A swift blunt gash of deep invisible cuts
Too fast for the human eye
At least too fast to react for most
Only the greatest warriors would last minutes
Built for effectiveness in combat
Homage to the traditional
The new Yamato would be more legendary
More unique
More savage than the old
His brain now mostly technology
His programming be elegant swift force
For a new glory
If one could call it so
A new breed of samurai
A new breed of warrior
Metal and man combined
Technology and human interwoven
All black everything
Black steel and blood
Beauty in the samurai code
For there now not be one in this upgrade
Yamato M12

Author's Notes:
I was heavily inspired by Yamato and his labors and it rekindled my love for the samurai. I have liked this warrior most (with only challenge from Spartans since the eve of the beautiful movie 300). I tried a purely descriptive, non-narrative style to write my 'story' for Yamato. I just really wanted to describe a dope warrior that could become my own, derived from the Japanese legends of Yamato the great samurai.

The honor and strict profession of a samurai is so respectable to me. They even kill themselves as a warrior's code if they are defeated fairly in battle showing no pain or fear. They fight for honor. I compete for glory. There is a crossover between those I am sure. At least that is what I tell myself haha. The Samurai way of life inspires me.

I used his original name but added M12 to indicate a version upgrade of sorts. M because of my name Michael, and 12 because it's my rugby jersey and favorite number. I did not want him to be merely mortal anymore, but a mechanized half human, mostly robotic samurai warrior. Being only human is a drag. So why not? I actually spent a good two hours some change trying to find the right photos. I am picky. I use photos to show the viewer a glimpse of what I think, and though never exact and always somewhat abstract, and for the most part the idea comes across vividly I think. I try to make words and the imagery one in the same. They feed off one another. And hopefully my assembled thumbnails of detail and idea show you somewhat of a Yamato I envision and describe.

The sources I used to compose a mood board for my ideal
Yamato M12 Tech-Weapon Samurai Beast!

Daiichi Picture by Hasan Bajramovic hbajramovic
Samurai Armor Wallpaper High Quality Resolution #xc50 ~ EasyOffer.net
Sweyda, Typography, type, custom lettering, hand lettering, vector, vector illustration, action sports |
Samurai Stock II by PhelanDavion on DeviantArt
M/R] Angelic Sentinels: F&S | OOC
MaqNox — #dope #swag #fashion #style #adidas #y3...

Reading Diary A - British // Beowulf

Beowulf

Author's Notes

We all know the story of Beowulf, at least most of us. This is to me probably the most legendary legend ever, that's right, I used legend twice in one sentence. I reference Hercules a lot, but mostly cause of his popularity, thank to Disney, but Beowulf is the legend of all legends (that's right, said it again) in its most purist form if you ask me. It doesn't sugar coat or censor, it certainly boosts and over exaggerates, and the warrior's feats are epic = all qualities a legend must have. It also has beautiful, descriptive imagery and writing to go along with the action packed tasks. The writer Strafford Riggs lays out an almost movie like script in such detailed passages of writing that I hope to even halfway emulate. Here is my favorite passage in which Beowulf and Grendel go savage on one another:

"Beowulf, the lord of Geatsland had fastened both mighty hands upon the monster's arm and, with a sudden twist that forced a groan of agony from Grendel's lips, leaped behind him, forcing the imprisoned arm high up Grendel's back, and the beast fell prone on the floor.

Now came the final struggle, and sweat poured from Beowulf, while from Grendel there oozed a slimy sap that smelled like vinegar and sickened Beowulf. But he clung to the monster's arm, and slowly, slowly, he felt its great muscles and sinews give way, and as his foot found Grendel's neck, he prayed to all the gods for help and called upon his father Ecgtheow for strength to sustain him in this desperate effort.

And the mighty arm of Grendel gave way in the terrible hands of Beowulf, and, with a piercing shriek that shook the gilded rafters of Heorot, Grendel stumbled forward, leaving in Beowulf's hands the gory arm."

Detailed. Written well. Exciting. Epic. Legendary. Beowulf. Beautiful.

Beowulf

Week 10 Storytelling - Spirit

Spirit

He peered over the misty mountains of the Northwest coast. The thick vapor was his stealth. The days stayed like this by his doing as he prayed to the Thunder God for this gloom as it would eventually be to his advantage in the death to come. The Thunder God looked favorably upon him, as he granted this cloudy coverage.

Spirit waited. Perched on the mountain. Waiting for death to come. It was cold. He could see his breath. These were his surroundings. His forest. He thrived in these conditions. He was a shadow. A hawk. A warrior of the Northwest. A solemn individual that never spoke. Only listened. Listened to the forest. To the trees. To the wolves. To the hawks. To the invaders. He was bred to be a warrior. The last of his slaughtered tribe. Now he wander the Northwest looking to conquer those who had done this blasphemy so many years ago.

Spirit the Pacific Northwest Warrior

He would have to live with that pain forever, as he was immortal. The only way he could die was in battle. The glorious way. These parameters set upon him by the Thunder God. With this immortality came abilities. Spirit abilities. Hawk vision, and pearl white eyes to show. Like bolts of lightning were trapped in his eyes. The strength and cunning of 10 normal men. And inhuman movement like he was gliding when he fought. His attire all black. The only things not were his white-shot eyes and his face. The entirety of his face from his forehead to his neck were teal. Pacific Native War paint. Though he craved stealth he still wanted his adversary to have a clear target for his face. A challenge to all. A notion of confidence, and a visually poetic hue of a war cry. Wolf fur and Feathers surrounded his traps like a scarf. He carried a great spear, two body lengths long, adorned with feathers, painted all black. Three teal bands were painted closer to the sharpened orca-vertebrae tip. He carried a torso sized shield carved from a great orcas skull. It was carved into a giant stylized hawk painted all black, in the style the Pacific Northwest Natives were known for. His last piece was his carved hawk helmet that cover his head from the forehead to the back of his skull. This too was painted black and magnificently war torn from battle.

Finally he saw gleams of spark and orange light in the heavy mist from atop his mountain. He perched days waiting for this. For he would finally come face-to-face with his tribes murderers. This time he would be death-bringer. Like a raven atop the reapers shoulder. A teal-faced black sea-hawk ready to stretch out his talons and rip the life from those who have scarred him. The lights were coming towards him but were too far out to see him. Spirit  closed his eyes. Everything went slow. He took in a breath, cold air coming from his lungs. He opened his eyes... and charged the lights from the downward slant of the mountain to the misty field his enemies walked.

A spear whizzed through the air, cutting, through the dew of the mist. Slink! Right through the face of the first double-horned helmet. Roars followed and a rush towards where the spear came from. Spirit ran at them with a silent ferocious intent. Everything went slow again. He could see them, they could not see him, but they were charging, stomping, ready to kill for their leader had just been pierced through the face with a long spear... Vikings... Their thundering roars spit at the unseen silent assassin, and his teal face and white-lighting eyes. Was Spirit ready for a glorious death or we he leave battered with revenge and honor for his fallen tribe. The oppositions still running at one another. Charging in an elegant war-ready scene. Everything goes black...

Author's Note
Spirit is inspired from the stories, style and culture of Pacific Northwest Native Americans. I tried another style of writing. Pretty traditional for me, but in my head more like a movie as I started to get to the end of it. I like this kinda, slo-mo, abstract, visual, screenplay, war-scene of Spirit and the Vikings. I tired to keep the story pretty mysterious. I went back and fourth with contemplations of making the last sentence "The Vikings would meet Valhalla... " and taking out the previous word "Viking" to only reveal that Spirit's opposition was in fact, Vikings only at the end in the last sentence. I'm still contemplating it. I like the abstractness of the story. It will be harder to follow than any of my others but that is conceptual as Spirit is the most mysterious of my warriors thus far. I am also still contemplating his name and trying to think of something better.

The picture was a great source of inspiration. It was intact the primary source of my story. I find that my best stories come from visuals. My mind goes off and sparks up stories from what I see as I am a very visual person. Hints me being a graphic designer and all. New found creative writer as well maybe haha. The visual style of Pacific Northwest Native art was also a major inspiration. Their color motifs, and abstracted depictions of animals, specifically the hawk, bear, and orca, are just amazing and fresh. They definitely have one of the more unique style of any culture. These types of animals and the specific style is seen all together on their famous totem poles. Teal, crimson, white and black, and wood grain are their primary colors, and heavy black abstract line work tie it all together for a very unique style. Spirit was definitely a fun one to make, and I hope the conceptual thoughts of mine come through to the reader.

___
Image sources:
warrior - http://www.spiritwrestler.com/catalog/index.php?artists_id=281
style/print - 12X12 Giclée Print Northwest Native by NorthwestNativeGifts

Reading Diary B - British North America Native Stories

British North America

The Burning of the World

Once all the world was burned. Only a man and his mother and his sister were saved. Before the fire there were many people on earth. Then the young man fell out with his father, and they became enemies. The young man had heard that all the world was to be burned, but his father did not believe it.

Now the young man made a bow and arrows. He shot one arrow to the west, and one to the east, and one to the north, and one to the south. The places where the arrows fell were the four corners of a bit of ground which would not burn. The young man told everybody who wanted to be saved from the fire to come onto that square of land. Many did not believe the world would be burned, so they would not come.

After a while the fire came. They could hear it. They were encamped by the side of a big lake. By and by all the birds and animals came running to that bit of ground marked out by the arrows. The old man had quarreled with his son, so he would not come.

The fire was very hot. All the water boiled because it was so hot. After a while the fire was put out, and the water had settled down. Everything had to be started over again.

Now there were many animals on this patch of ground, and the man named some of them and told them what to do.

He put Beaver in the water, but Rabbit wanted to live in the water. The man said, "No."

Then Rabbit jumped into the water and the man had to pull him out. He said to Rabbit, "Your legs are too long. Even if you do eat willow like Beaver, you don't go about in the water properly."

Squirrel wanted to be Bear. He did all he could to be Bear. He argued and chattered a great deal about it. The man said, "Oh, you're too noisy. You wouldn't be a good Bear." He said also, "If you are Bear, you are so noisy that when people come again, they will kill too many of you. A bear must keep quiet. He has many enemies."

Then Squirrel began to weep. He wept until his eyes were white. Even today Squirrel has eyes bright and swollen from weeping.

The man made Bear then, because he was nice and wise and quiet.

Somebody wanted to be Caribou—nobody remembers just who wanted that.

Then Deer was made, and made so swift that he could outrun all pursuers.

After the man had finished making all the animals, he put a mark on them, so people would know what they were. Then the man had to give all the people new names. His mother he called Robin, because she was friendly. His sister he called Golden-winged Woodpecker, because she was beautiful. He called himself Blackbird because he would only come every spring.

Author's Note

Interesting story. My favorite part was squirrel wanting to be bear. It made me laugh a little at the thought. Now I could have shown an image of the world burning. And trust me I wanted to, it was temping (some people just want to see the world burn) but comedy beat intensity today and a colorful picture of a bear and a squirrel was chosen instead as that is my favorite part of the whole story haha.

Bear & Squirrel

Reading Diary A - Pacific Northwest Native Stories

Pacific Northwest

Three Raven stories

The Origin of DaylightNanaimo version of Tlingit legend
When the earth was very new and young, it was dark and cold and gray. Even the stars were black. There was no light anywhere for Gull kept it in a small box which he guarded carefully.

His cousin, Raven, was tired of the dark. He wished for the daylight.

One day when Gull and Raven were out walking, Raven thought, "I wish Gull would run a thorn into his foot."

Hardly had he thought so, when, in the darkness, Gull stepped on a thorn. "Sqenán! My foot!" cried Gull.

"A thorn?" asked Raven. "Let me see it. I will take it out." But it was so dark Raven could not see the thorn. He asked Gull to open the box and make it light.

Gull opened it just a little way and the light was very faint. Raven said, "You must give me more light."

Gull answered, "Sqenán!"

So Raven pretended not to see the thorn. Instead of pulling it out, he pushed it in deeper and deeper, saying, "You must give me more light."

"Sqenán! Sqenán! My foot! My foot!" cried Gull. Raven pushed the thorn in deeper and deeper until Gull at last opened the box. That is the way the daylight came.
___

Owl and RavenEskimo

OWL and Raven were close friends. One day Raven made a new dress, dappled black and white, for Owl. Owl, in return, made for Raven a pair of whalebone boots and then began to make for her a white dress.

When Owl wanted to fit the dress, Raven hopped about and would not sit still. Owl became very angry and said, "If I fly over you with a blubber lamp, don't jump." Raven continued to hop about.

At last Owl became very angry and emptied the blubber lamp over the new white dress. Raven cried, "Qaq! Qaq!" Ever since that day Raven has been black all over.
___

The Spell of the Laughing RavenKlamath

At "dance place" when the Klamath Lake people danced, many people were there. Kemush, Old Man of the Ancients, went there. Then Old Raven laughed at them, laughed when they danced, and all people dancing there became rocks.

Gray Wolf entered Kitti above, from the north. There he stopped and lay down, although not yet having reached his home. In full dress, at that spot, moccasins with beads on toe, stopped and rested.

Then Old Grizzly approached Old Gray Wolf while lying asleep. And Old Grizzly stole from Gray Wolf his moccasins, beads also, and put them on to go to the fishing place.

Upon this, Old Gray Wolf, waking up, threw Old Grizzly down hill. He rolled him down over the rocks for having robbed him of moccasins and beads also. Thus killed he Old Grizzly.

Upon this, the Klamath Lake people began fighting the Northerners because Old Grizzly had been killed by Old Gray Wolf.

Then Old Raven laughed at them when fighting and they became rocks.
___

Author's Notes

These stories caught my eye most from the Pacific Northwest Native stories. I chose to do the Pacific NW in the first place because I recalled reading about their vastly different customs and color palette from elements such as totem pols to the very stylized depictions of animals, and their tattoo like abstractions. I also have played rugby with some Pacific Islanders, also know as Polys, including places like Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, etc, as rugby is a huge part of their culture as well. These are generations of course and not all of the customs and cultural stories match up with the stories I've read. This units stories particularly match up with the states of Washington and Oregon.

These short story formats also made me think of Aesop's Fables. I love this format. And having three to directly compare and contrast with their respective cultures attached to them is a treat. Like Pacific NW Native Aesop fables, just really cool to me.

The below picture is of a sculpture of a Raven Dancer. It reminded me of the Black Swan as well but with a Native essence of solidarity. I love black on black. The matte and gloss contrast is so beautiful. I want to possibly make a warrior out of this little guy as it has inspired me.

Pacific Northwest

Raven Dancer

Week 9 Storytelling - The 3 Native

The 3 Native

In the wild land of early North America when there were only Native peoples there lived three vastly different Native warriors. Some say they were spirits, some say they were deities,  some say they were reincarnates of demigods fallen from the sky. No one knew their exact origins though. What was know however, is that each warriors protected one of the three directions of North America. West, East, and Central. Not as a pack but as individuals. Legends in their own rights. Unbenownced to one another but all sons of the motherland. All natural, 100% American muscle. Weapons of nature and Native culture. Hunters. Warriors. Beasts.

They were not known by names. They had none. For they did not need be known, only feared. Feared from all who try to claim natural North American. Any who tried to molest its natural state and freedom would in turn be conquered themselves. Accounts of what these warriors look like are so far and few between as only those who challenged them or the land would ever see them, and many do not return home. 

One warrior wore a great wolf's head over a grizzly head. He believed he drew the predatorial spirit from these animals that would aid his savagery and tactic in battle. Throwing tomahawks and a bash club were his weapons of choice. The bash stick was like a modern baseball bat but with a sculpture like circle at the end of the straight-to-curved weapon. It was a blunt tool of force. Cracking skulls and shattering femurs. His preferred ways to destroy with the bash club were by smashing the skull's temple, or the collapsing the ribs with quick blunt force. The trauma he dealt was obviously deadly, like the power of a bear's slash and swing at its prey. Tomahawks to the achilles tendon was another one of his favorites, as the enemy was left unable to walk and on the ground agonizing. He would usually finish them off with the bash stick to the dome.

One warrior was rumored to be more demon spirit than man protector. He was a ruthless killer. Just as much an animal as a man. His left arm/shoulder/trap was that of a grizzly bears. From the massive shoulders and size, to the brown fur. Complete with giant bear claws and bear muscle, with brute slashing strength. He could tear trees in half. He had the roar of a grizzly. In battle he fought more beast like than like a man. He was a brute hulk. He ripped the faces off poor souls. He broke necks with sheer force. He breathed embers. Spark and ash roared from his jaws with the same effects as flame throwing flames. Victims caught in the wind of this deadly magnificence would  smoke up with a plague like sweep of embers setting them ablaze while spreading throughout their whole body, further disintegrating flesh. His eyes burned with the same coal eyes as his breath. What was he? A demon? A spirit? A man? No one is for sure. But what was for sure, was that he was a fierce protector. A force to be reckoned with.

One warrior was a skilled killer with the bow. Maroon war paint covered his face, down to his shoulders, streaking to just below his chest. He had one maroon dyed feather on his head. He had a tattoo sleeve on his left arm of 100 maroon arrows scattering in every hectic direction. Each of his arrows was all maroon from the arrow tips to the, shaft and feathers. He loved the bow and arrow. And he loved death. He also had a jagged black-obsidian volcanic-rock dagger. It was sharper than a katana, like hardened black glass. He was deadly with the bow. The best. Perhaps the most vicious of the protectors as well. He would rage with the bow. Firing shots off like an old time machine gun. He didn't mind taking a few arrows out, sliding them between his finders, and hand-to-hand, jabbing and striking opponents with them as he slaughtered groups at a time even. His obsidian blade would do just the same, but would flay tendons, flesh and muscle like a knife through butter. But his favorite was the bow. From 500 yards out, or 10 foot away, it did not matter. Bow kills would always take the most fatalities for this warrior.

The 3 Native. The savage Native American protectors. War cry they soon die. Fear the Culture. Fear North America. Fear the legends. The 3 Native.

____

Author's Notes

Inspired by stories and themes from Native Stories and mythology.

I thought about making this story set in the far future where things in North America went back to a more natural state and Natives thrived, and technology became decrepit and dysfunctional so traditional skills of hand-to-hand came back, and the traditional Native warriors were back to top of the food chain in America. But I wanted a little bit more history so I decided not to do so, but still a good idea I thought.

I also had other crazy ideas like one warrior being the alpha of a wolf pack, commanding them at his whim to kill. 'Sick em' and they pursued. Scores of wolves. But I decided not to have animals, just references, or parts of them.

I wanted to pay homage to the buffalo and have someone wear a buffalo skull or something. But chose not. Other pre story notes included weapons or elements of an bald eagle, or mountain lion. Like feathers or talons or claws. Maybe a great eagle talon dagger. Cool ideas that didn't make the final cut.

My first revision had four warriors and was called "the 4 Native." Here is the description of the warrior I took out: "One warrior had a weapon like no other. He did carry the traditional native spear and a one foot diameter traditional war shield, but his specialty was a great stag antler, forearm attachment. The antler strapped to his wrist and forearm and was an extension of the arm, extending an extra two feet, with sharp antler tips jutting out in their many organic directions. This warrior was all about optimal piercing weapons and thrusting strikes. His forearm antler-blade was a weapon of nature. He too was as agile and majestic as the stag, but that all stopped with the aggressive tips of his weapons. He pierced throats, lungs, thighs, and hearts with his stag horn. He threw his spear one-hundred yards with deadly accuracy and puncturing force. The strike. The impale. He was the agile piercer." He just wasn't as dynamic to me.


I also almost combined the remaining three warriors to add a single one into my portfolio. I was gonna somehow incorporate this by having a forward of his ability or curse or whatever that made him shift forms, or shift warrior type after every morning's wake. I didn't like this one too much. Then I just thought each style/equipment could have been just things he went back and fourth on. I didn't like that as much either cause the identities were vastly different. So I just kept it to the three and I am happy with that decision. I like these three in their own unique ways. But if I did figure out some way to combine them I would have named 'em Amerika, Native (but probably not), or Tso'i U-ka-dv or "three face" in Cherokee. I do wish I could combine em somehow, they are just so different and cool though. Oh well. Ya win some ya win some. 

Another really really cool idea was to bring elements of other bad ass historical warriors into the mix like one of the protectors having a fallen Spartan's shield or samurai's katana from when that respective warrior ventured to North America only to meet his death from one of the three Native. A Native American warrior with a katana just sounds so dope.

And lastly I pondered back and fourth to if I should name the Native warriors. Maybe? Maybe not? In the end I decided not too. But names like Burning grizzly, Maroon, Stag, Boom or Boom-ie-ay (with the Bash stick) came to mind. I could have gone crazy with those but I preferred them mysterious, unknown and unconquered.

Native Warrior

Reading Diary B - Myths & Legends of the Great Plains

Myths and Legends of the Great Plains

The Buffalo & The Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear was going somewhere, following the course of a stream, and at last he went straight towards the headland. When he got in sight, Buffalo Bull was standing beneath it. Grizzly Bear retraced his steps, going again to the stream, following its course until he got beyond the headland. Then he drew near and peeped. He saw that Buffalo Bull was very lean, and standing with his head bowed, as if sluggish. So Grizzly Bear crawled up close to him, made a rush, seized him by the hair of his head, and pulled down his head. He turned Buffalo Bull round and round, shaking him now and then, saying, “Speak! Speak! I have been coming to this place a long time, and they say you have threatened to fight me. Speak!” Then he hit Buffalo Bull on the nose with his open paw.

“Why!” said Buffalo Bull, “I have never threatened to fight you who have been coming to this country so long.”

“Not so! You have threatened to fight me.” Letting go the buffalo’s head, Grizzly Bear went around and seized him by the tail, turning him round and round. Then he left, but as he did so, he gave him a hard blow with his open paw.

“Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! you have caused me great pain,” said Buffalo Bull. Bobtailed Grizzly Bear departed.

Buffalo Bull thought thus: “Attack him! You too have been just that sort of a person.”

Grizzly Bear knew what he was thinking, so he said, “Why! What are you saying?”

“I said nothing,” said Buffalo Bull.

Then Grizzly Bear came back. He seized Buffalo Bull by the tail, pulling him round and round. Then he seized him by the horns, pulling his head round and round. Then he seized him again by the tail and hit him again with the open paw. Again Grizzly Bear departed. And again Buffalo Bull thought as he had done before. Then Grizzly Bear came back and treated Buffalo Bull as he had before.

Buffalo Bull stepped backward, throwing his tail into the air.

“Why! Do not flee,” said Grizzly Bear.

Buffalo threw himself down, and rolled over and over. Then he continued backing, pawing the ground.

“Why! I say, do not flee,” said Grizzly Bear. When Buffalo Bull backed, making ready to attack him, Grizzly Bear thought he was scared.

Then Buffalo Bull ran towards Grizzly, puffing a great deal. When he neared him, he rushed on him. He sent Grizzly Bear flying through the air.

As Grizzly Bear came down towards the earth, Buffalo Bull caught him on his horns and threw him into the air again. When Grizzly Bear fell and lay on the ground, Buffalo Bull made at him with his horns to gore him, but just missed him.

Grizzly Bear crawled away slowly, with Buffalo Bull following him step by step, thrusting at him now and then, though without striking him. When Grizzly Bear came to a cliff, he plunged over headlong, and landed in a thicket at the foot. Buffalo Bull had run so fast he could not stop at the edge where Grizzly Bear went over, but followed the cliff for some distance. Then he came back and stood with his tail partly raised. Grizzly Bear returned to the bank and peeped.

“Oh, Buffalo Bull,” said Grizzly Bear. “Let us be friends. We are very much alike in disposition.”

Thoughts
At first I was really confused as why the Grizzly was so mean haha I said to myself "why is Grizzly such a dumb bully" as his bullying seemed awkward, spinning Buffalo around and only taunting him really. They are both similar in size and strength so I also thought "why is Buffalo getting pushed around like a b*#@h?!" But eventually he fought back and I was proud. But the whole spinning by the tail thing was ridiculously funny/stupid to me. I couldn't get over that haha. But I could picture an epic death fight like a previous story I created between a great wolf and a beast lion. Doooope. The Grizzly, Buffalo, and Wolf are all heavily included in Native cultures, and are my top North American animals.

Beast of A Grizzly Bear

(Really Beorn from

"The Hobbit")

Reading Diary A -Cherokee Myths

Cherokee Myths

The Hunter and the Uksu'hï
I can sum this one up fast even though it was my favorite of the group. A hunter looking for excitement in Georgia, though warned, goes to seek out the deadly Uksu'hï, a great snake two times bigger than the South American anaconda.. That's huge. The hunter finds what he is looking for but is quickly frightened by the size of the sight of the monster. He runs, it chases, it wraps him up and nearly breaks his ribs. He luckily uses his sweat and stench to detract the snake and go free with his life, but just barely.

Thoughts
This completely reminded me of the old movie Anaconda. That one really got to me when I was younger but when I go back and look at it I laugh because of the effects. I imagine a way cooler warrior though, and that he actually slays the great snake. Maybe with a tomahawk or a dope feathered spear. I really like the pic I chose as well. Great colors and depiction.

Native Warrior

Reading Plan

I plan to try and stay with my theme of warriors. These types of titles or themes caught my eyes. From the Native American section: monster-slaying Apache hero Naiyenesgani, the Blackfoot story of Kut-O-Yis, the hero born of blood, the great snake-monster Uktena from the Cherokee group (as I have some Cherokee blood in me this interests me to learn more perhaps).

From the British unit there are so many classics that I never really knew were British. I can definitely pull inspiration from Robin Hood, Beowulf, and King Arthur. Maybe combine em in my own epic warrior. Or maybe a made up Alice and Wonderland warrior with elements from that whole story. And the devil story from Canterbury interested me.

In the European Section the famous Crane and Hunt stood out with their stories however I already know them like Snow-White, Sleeping Beauty, and anything else Disney has done lol. Maybe some more exploration. Russian tales could be cool. They could be dark. But that is a stereotype of course.

Apache Warriorz

Reflections: Looking Forward On the Semester in Mythology

Main goals for the remainder of the semester for me are: consistency in blog physical style, as in the font I use, the sizes, the organization (variations are ok, but as long as it looks complete as a whole), completing the course before thanksgiving, hopefully doing two weeks of work during each week, and continually striving to be saturated in dramatics, style, language, references, and just imagination overall. I want my writing to be like graphic works of art that scream at the viewer, with vivid color, tasteful and un-tasteful references to history, pop/modern culture, and the realities of life.

I want to be me! To continue to develop my own unique style. Like a Frank Miller of 300 style remixed by a refreshing blunt/dope Kanye featuring Drake performed by an amazing Denzel Washington with background vocals from the Weekend and that lifestyle with homage to Muhammad Ali and Andy Warhol. How does that paint a picture for you.

I hope to continually mash, mix, remix, and be inspired by the stories to come when creating a couple new warriors, or maybe doses of Randomness to the face that I might have planned. We will see. It's going to be a good time with some good reads.

I will continue to comment and critique my classmates interact with them more maybe pushing them to be ever so creative outside of their own norms.

Bang Bang

Reflections: Looking Back On the Semester in Mythology

First of all I would like to thank the wonderful Lara Gibbs for such a creative class. It has definitely been a lot of writing but the reward I have felt, and the creative expression you have provided as an outlet for all of us that take your course is just, amazing. Teachers like you make learning fun. And you always do so with a typed smiley face and understanding. It has all been a refreshing experience. Thank you.

I have really been impressed with some of the stories I have concocted. I use the word concocted specifically, as I feel like a mad poet with some of my aggressive writing style and the things I have composed so far. Most tell me they love my over saturated descriptive, start-stop format, and I hope so. I have definitely developed a signature style and have always felt like somewhat of a writer, but now fully feel like a writer with my own identity. Though aggressive, I think people also find the subtle beauty I try to finesse inside of my writing. I hope so. And if they do not, at least I do. But so far I have enjoyed the praise and class.

I write about warriors and animals mostly. There is always violence. I like hints of humor if I can but sometimes it doesn't make it into a story and that is ok I have learned. Sometimes I just write. My blinders go up, I have narrowed focused vision, and I write. I enjoy being lost in that zone. In that mind frame. Lost.

My favorite stories thus far written from myself are of my three warriors (But don't read the last two as they will be in my portfolio soon and you can read them then Laura!): Rha the Destroyer // Makoma Neon // Yamato M12 and my two lion stories based from Aesop's Fables: Wolves Lions & Glory // A Lion Amongst Bulls

My favorite stories I have read are both from Aesop. Here is one, The Boar and the Fox:

As a Boar was whetting his Teeth against a Tree, up comes a Fox to him.
"Pray, what do you mean by That?" says he, "for I see no occasion for't."
"Well," says the Boar, "but I do; for when I come once to be set upon, 'twill be too late for me to be Whetting when I should be Fighting."

No Man, or State can be safe in Peace, that is no always in readiness to encounter an Enemy in Case of War.

I just really love the moral. Staying war ready. Being competitive. The second story was called the Foolhardy wolf in which a wolf looked up to a Lion cause of his effective hunting skills, and one day tried to be like lion with too much confidence and got crushed by an elephant. The cool quote from it was 'Great Lion, come forth in thy might. Food is in sight.'

and it reminded me of an exact quote I told my little brothers one day -

"Do not be impressed by people that might be your peers. Idolizing is for little boys. You can appreciate talent but do not idolize."

As far as classmate interaction I think it's going well. Sometimes the post feel a little forced and repetitive but that is hard to stop, we are all human. But meeting new people is always fun!

I have no set schedule, I do this all at a whim when I have time usually knocking it out first before design or history homework. Sundays is a good day to do work. I do it in my room on my bed usually. During the week I do some during study breaks in the library. I work best in the quite. It's kinda soothing and accomplishing to get the stuff checked off, especially when you know you have just created a unique piece of imaginative work. Thanks again Laura!

Imagination

Essay - How An African Warrior and Japanese Samurai Become Legends like Hercules

How two warriors, Makoma of Africa and Yamato of Japan become legends in strikingly similar fashion. With these types of stories one can almost always relate them to Hercules and his labors. The stories of Yamato even in fact have the same word "labors" in their respective titles. All of these stories include a single powerful man, given particular skill or magic prowess at birth and become legends amongst humans.

Yamato had to slay a dragon as Hercules had to slay the Hydra. Both wielded great swords and were pretty effective with them. Both were kinda war hungry as well and led to their wives deaths.

Makoma bore a hammer, much like the giant club Hercules sometimes welded  Both fought giant beast, Makoma's being crocodiles, Hercules being the great boar. In fact Yamato also played a great boar with terrifying tusks. So many similarities all around. Each story from a different regions on earth though. This is interesting.

In the end Makoma goes to the clouds as Hercules goes to Mt. Olympus. Makoma fought something like a great Mount Olympus type Titan to finally make his was as a legend into the heavens. Yamato became the most legendary samurai in all of Japan. 

Sources
African Stories & Japanese Mythology

Marvels Hercules

Week 5 Storytelling - Rha the Destroyer

Author's Foreword//Notes:
This is a different approach from my other stories; in this approach I combine two stories from two different cultures! Uh oh, that's right, combine. The stories are much longer so showing them in this post would make the whole thing look suuper long and scary and we don't want that so I will start by summarizing them: I used the Egyptian mythological story of the King of the Dead and the Persian tale of Muhammad Tirandaz the Archer to create my very own story with elements from both. Here are very very short summaries about each story that let you know all you need to know relating to my new story.

King of the Dead - Many Egyptian Gods hang in the balance as Horus fights Set in a series of battles and war and eventually defeats him and ends his tyranny over earth. Horus then brings Osiris, his father who fell to the hands of Set, back as a mummy with the help of Ra in the heavens, and Anubis the black hound God. Osiris becomes king of the dead.

Muhammad Tirandaz the Archer - Muhammad is a foolish young boy who accidentally kills two mice playing with one another when something slips from his hand. His fellow apprentices see this and praise him by saying telling him his name should be "Muhammad Tirandaz, Muhammad of the Bow,Slaying with my arrow two lions at one blow." The naive little boy swells with confidence, leaves home, buys a bow and arrows. He is eventually found by the king, wins a war by being whipped around by a horse while charging at the king's enemies and making them magically retreat - winning the war. He is then made Commander and Chief of the army and lives happily ever after I'm sure, unless another war were to happen 'cause he actually can't shoot, ride, or kill at all. He's just lucky.

After reading King of the Dead I was pumped. After reading Muhammad Tirandaz the Archer I was struck stupid and laughed at how I thought he was going to be an epic bad ass, Legolas from the Lord of the Rings, Persian Robin Hood, gangster with a bow and arrow. Now read my new version.

Rha the Destroyer
With an eagle's eye he sees all of his enemies. His prey.
He stand around 6 foot tall. 200 pounds of carved up warrior.
He is not exactly man. He is not exactly god. A blurry in-between.
Fast. Agile more than any. Quiet in step like a black panther in the shadow.
His eyes as black as the night sky with pupils as stars.
Look into his eyes and a piece of your soul leaves with him.
Regardless, your life will. 

He was Persian born. Captive in the Egypt-Persia Wars.
In his forced conversion to Egyptian belief he gained favor from the god Ra.
A God with a great falcon head. Ra.
And now he would make the Persian the same.
Ra infected him with his spirit. Engulfing his mind in chaos and torment.
His endurance would favor him some of the God Ra's ability.
Into his heart was burned Ra's might, and his soul forever Ra's.
To insure his faith, the all-seeing Egyptian eye tattooed on his right shoulder.

Rha the Destroyer

The 2nd Egypt-Persia wars fell upon the lands once again.
Ra would unleash his new favorite soul - Rha the Destroyer.
Rha peered over a flat battle field covered in waist-high wheat.
Sword clashing. Shields bashing.
Egyptians killing Persians. Persians killing Egyptians.
Rha charged. Swift. Upright. Lifeless in the eyes.
A black spear in his hand. A bow on his back.
Arrows of sharpened Nile crocodile scales.
Falcon feathers at the ends, but not of his own.
A killing was amiss. Rha's veins swelled with the poison.
The poison of Egypt's finest snake, the mamba.
The black venom show through his dark skin.
A rush to his body and a blackout to his mind.
Rha was now at the battle's edge.

He drew an arrow. Pulled back on the string of his bow. And let it fly.
The arrow whizzed through the air with a sharp acute zip of a noise.
It pierced the heart of an enemy. Went through the back of an Egyptian ally's helmet.
And ended firmly in the head of another enemy, poking out the back, an eye on the very tip of the sharp arrow head.
An all seeing eye, of the gore of violence and war.
3 kills. Killing spree. Rha did not care who. But just that blood was spilt.
He charge through the battlefield. Zooming on his fleet feet.
Taking a solitary arrow out. And slashing the throats of his enemies.
An assassin in a war. Godly agile.
Hardly seen by the naked human eye. Just blurs of feather.

Rha took out his savage wrath on the Persian Empire for what seemed like hours upon hours.
After hundreds of bodies lay bloody on the field.
And a third of the enemy depleted. They began to retreat.
Spoils to Egypt. Victory to Rha. Hail to Ra.
Hail to Rha, the Destroyer.

Author's Notes
This is the bad ass Muhammad the Archer I thought I would be reading. But it's ok, I'll make him. I know I have a violent  imagination, but I don't like to shy away from what real war is probably like. Chaotic. I was a warrior in a past life haha. As you can see I took Ra from the Egyptian culture and made him spawn a better Muhammad the Archer as Rha the Destroyer. There is now a war between the two cultures. And 'Muhammad' (Rha) is turned into a previously Persian to Egyptian convert. I combined the stories on a couple dynamic levels I feel. I also drew descriptive inspiration from the picture I selected, really helping to tie a visual to my new character. Hail Rha, the Destroyer.